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From: meth@csd2.UUCP (Asher Meth)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: What is a mamzer?
Message-ID: <3780027@csd2.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 26-Mar-85 17:20:00 EST
Article-I.D.: csd2.3780027
Posted: Tue Mar 26 17:20:00 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 29-Mar-85 03:15:02 EST
References: <916@cbdkc1.UUCP>
Organization: New York University
Lines: 36

In response to Art Kamlet :

>A mamzer is not permitted many rights, including bar-mitzvah,
>normal marraige, etc.  A mamzer is pretty much a cast-out from
>the Jewish Community.

(1) Bar Mitzvah is not a "right" as you call it. IT JUST IS. By definition, a
male becomes bar-mitzvah, a man of the law, one who is required to perform all
the mitzvos, at age 13 years and one day old (on his HEBREW birthday). A female
becomes a Bas Mitzvah, a woman of the law, etc., at age 12 years and one day
old (on her HEBREW birthday).

There seems to be a great misconception in today's society (especially America)
- a boy is "bar-mitzvahed" at age 13, with all the accompanying trimmings of a
great birthday party, at which point he has reached the end of the road in his
long trek in becoming a jewish man. He is now a man, and can stop going to the
hebrew school (it was boring and a waste of time anyway; just to please my
parents and grandparents), can shed himself of all responsibilities as a jewish
man. In short, he is grown up and can do (or not do) whatever he wants.

This, in fact, is the exact opposite of what it really means to become a "bar
mitzvah". The road of Jewish life, with all its trials and tribulations, and all
of its responsibilities, is just beginning for this young boy (who has just
entered Jewish manhood).

(2) It is true that a mamzer is denied certain rights. These basically fall in
the category of marriage (i.e., permitted marriage partners). The Torah tells
us "Lo yavoh mamzer bikehal HaShem" - a mamzer shall not (is not permitted to)
come in the kahal (congregation) of HaShem (Devarim 23:3). A mamzer may not
marry a non-mamzer; he/she may only marry their own type.

To paraphrase Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchick : the status of a mamzer with
respect to marriage is tragic. But we cannot do anything about it. This is what
the Torah tells us.

            asher meth